Great Learning: Bilingual Edition, English and Chinese 大學: A Confucian Classic of Ancient Chinese Literature 四書

by Confucius, Lionshare Media (Editor), Lionshare Chinese (Editor)

This edition of Great Learning features both English and Chinese side by side for easy reference and bilingual support. The paragraphs are organized for easy reading.

Great Learning is a classic of Confucianism and one of the Four Books of Confucian philosophy. The Great Learning is significant because it expresses many themes of Chinese philosophy and political thinking, and has therefore been extremely influential both in classical and modern Chinese thought. The Great Learning represented a key aspect of the Chinese curriculum for nearly 1500 years and can be found in virtually all aspects of Chinese culture. The Great Learning within the Chinese curriculum acted as a "springboard" for further learning, "self cultivation and investigation of things." Through self-cultivation one can bring order and harmony to one's mind, personal life, family, state and the world as a whole. By defining the path of learning (Dao) in governmental and social terms, the Great Learning links the spiritual realm with daily life, thus creating a vision of the Way (Dao) that is radically different from that of non-action as presented by Daoism. The Great Learning,on the other hand, requires action on the part of the individual towards the ultimate goal of self-cultivation through the "expansion of knowledge and the investigation of things." The Great Learning presents Confucianism as being this-worldly rather than other-worldly. As opposed to basing its authority on an external deity, the Great Learning bases its authority on the practices of ancient kings.

《大学》是儒家经典《四书》之一，《大學》原是《禮記》第四十二篇，內文的撰成約在戰國末期至西漢之間，作者是誰尚未定論。一說是曾子所作[1]；一說是孔門七十子後學者所作。在南宋前从未单独刊印过。自唐代韩愈、李翱维护道统，开始推崇《大学》与《中庸》。北宋時司馬光編撰《大學廣義》，是為大學獨立成書之始。程顥、程頤又編撰《大學》原文章節成《大學定本》。南宋時朱熹編撰《大學章句》，並與《论语》、《孟子》、《中庸》合編為《四書》。按照朱熹的看法，《大学》是孔子及其门徒留下来的遗书，是儒学的入门读物。因此，朱熹把它列为「四书」之首。

《大学》原不分章节。后来朱熹按其内容，朱熹《大學章句》，將《大學》分

Genres: Philosophy, China, Nonfiction, Classics, Religion, History, Politics

22 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 481

About the author

Chinese philosopher Confucius, originally Kong Fuzi and born circa 551 BC, promoted a system of social and political ethics, emphasizing order, moderation, and reciprocity between superiors and subordinates; after his death in 479 BC, disciples compiled the Analects , which contains a collection of his sayings and dialogues.

Teachings of this social thinker deeply influenced Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese life.

孔子 - Kong Zi
孔夫子 - Kong Fuzi (Kung Fu-Tzu)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius

Reviews

[Viji (Bookish endeavors) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A handbook to rulers on how to rule and treat the subjects.. it also talks about personal morality..
"The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue
throughout the kingdom, first ordered well their own states. Wishing
to order well their states, they first regulated their families.
Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their
persons. Wishing to cultivate their persons, they first rectified
their hearts. Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be
sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts,
they first extended to the utmost their knowledge. Such extension of
knowledge lay in the investigation of things."
This is the hierarchy which the author gives regarding the development of virtue in a kingdom. He adds that before attempting to make any change in society,one must start with one's family and oneself.
The importance Confucius gives to personality morality is the cornerstone of his philosophy.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zengzi Stardust

In The Great Learning, Zengzi provides a comprehensive guide to personal and societal self-cultivation, emphasizing the importance of education, self-reflection, and moral uprightness.
Something to think of now!

The book's teachings are as relevant today as they were when they were first written, and the concepts explored in its pages continue to influence and shape culture and thought.

The book is a good read for anyone interested in the development of earlier philosophy.

Although not all modern, the ideas explored are timeless, and its lessons continue to offer valuable insights into the human condition and our place in the world.

3.4/5

[Dokusha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Konfuzius als Name dürfte so ziemlich jedem geläufig sein. Auch daß er ein altchinesischer Philosoph war und klare Vorstellungen von den Regeln hatte, nach denen Leben und Politik ablaufen sollten, werden noch viele wissen. Aber die Anzahl derjenigen, die seine Lehren tatsächlich kennen oder zumindest einmal gelesen haben, dürfte recht überschaubar sein.
Dieses Buch nun ist die Gelegenheit, diese Wissenslücke zu schließen. Es führt die Lehren von Konfuzius auf, so wie sie von seinen Anhängern niedergeschrieben wurden (wie auch Jesus hat Konfuzius selbst keine Aufzeichnungen hinterlassen). Der Inhalt besteht aus den Büchern "Gespräche", "Maß und Mitte", "Die große Wissenschaft" und "Mong Dsi", wobei letzteres nicht mehr direkt die Aussagen Konfuzius' zum Inhalt hat, sondern die eines seiner bekanntesten Anhänger, Menzius. Dieser hat Konfuzius nicht mehr selbst kennen gelernt, war aber mit der wesentlichste Verbreiter und Propagator seiner Lehren.
Das Buch ist aus mehreren Gründen interessant: zum einen, weil man das Gedankengebäude eines der großen Philosophen der Weltgeschichte näher kennen lernt. Dann, weil man auch etliches über Sitten und Gebräuche im alten China lernt, von denen viele bis in die heutige Zeit wirken oder zumindest Spuren hinterlassen haben und manche sonst schwer verständlichen Reaktionen nachvollziehbarer machen. Und schließlich, weil viele der Pflichten und Regeln, die Konfuzius den Menschen auferlegt, auch in der heutigen westlichen Welt durchaus richtig sind und zu einem besseren Miteinander führen könnten.
Eigentlich bekommt man das Buch gleich vierfach: es enthält die chinesischen Originaltexte, eine relativ textnahe deutsche Übersetzung, eine zweite wesentlich freiere und interpretierte Übersetzung (diese nicht für das Menzius-Buch) und viele teils sehr ausführliche Anmerkungen mit Erläuterungen zu Sitten, Gebräuchen, Sprache, Staaten und Personen. Dies hilft enorm beim Verständnis der Texte und läßt das Buch zu einem wahren Schatz werden.

[Andres · Rating 4 out of 5]

Corto pero sustancioso. Unos cuantos consejos excelentes sobre como gobernar y cuales son las virtudes que debe cultivar no solo un gobernante sino todos los miembros de un pueblo.

[Ofelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean...
It's really short.
That's it.
That's the review.
No, but really I can't be bothered to review freaking philosophy right now so I'm just not.

[Hifzan]

A great book.
Emphasize on priority, fundamental and basic principle of government. A masterpiece.

[Vinicius Bruno]

Desenvolvendo um pensamento parecido com o "Doutrina do Meio", porém de maneira enxuta [ainda que o comentário de "Tsang" (coloco entre aspas pois o nome está na antiga regra de romanização do mandarim) o dê mais corpo]: assim se dá O Grande Aprendizado.

Poderia fazer conjecturas, mas este trecho basta:

"Things have their root and their branches. Affairs have their end and
their beginning. To know what is first and what is last will lead near to
what is taught in the Great Learning.
The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the
kingdom, first ordered well their own states. Wishing to order well their
states, they first regulated their families. Wishing to regulate their
families, they first cultivated their persons. Wishing to cultivate their
persons, they first rectified their hearts. Wishing to rectify their hearts,
they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in
their thoughts, they first extended to the utmost their knowledge. Such
extension of knowledge lay in the investigation of things.
Things being investigated, knowledge became complete. Their
knowledge being complete, their thoughts were sincere. Their thoughts
being sincere, their hearts were then rectified. Their hearts being
rectified, their persons were cultivated. Their persons being cultivated,
their families were regulated. Their families being regulated, their states
were rightly governed. Their states being rightly governed, the whole
kingdom was made tranquil and happy.
From the Son of Heaven down to the mass of the people, all
must consider the cultivation of the person the root of
everything besides. "

[Kiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the kingdom, first ordered well their own states. Wishing to order well their states, first they regulated their families. Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their persons. Wishing to cultivate their persons, first they rectified their hearts. Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first extended to the utmost in their knowledge. Such extension of knowledge lay in the investigation of things.” This Chinese classic unpacks these ordered strata of virtues, starting with society and working inward, then back outward. The lasting impact on Confucian cultures is found in their filial piety and focus on education, and is under threat by vapid materialism. Strangely absent in the order is a deity. There’s much to glean from the Great Learning, but I still believe the best starting point isn’t the kingdom but “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom.” 48 pages of great learning, but there is greater still.

[Duc Hoang · Rating 3 out of 5]

Đại học, 1 trong 4 cuốn thuộc Tứ Thư. Một cuốn sách ngắn. Mình nghĩ nội dung của toàn cuốn sách có thể tóm tắt qua thành ngữ: “Cách vật, trí tri, thành ý, chính tâm, tu thân, tề gia, trị quốc, bình thiên hạ”.
Mọi việc bắt đầu từ nhận thức, tức là ta phải có nhận thức về nguyên lý của các sự việc (cách vật). Từ nhận thức ấy, ta sẽ có những cái nhìn đúng đắn (trí tri). Thành ý đúng đắn dẫn ta đến ý nghĩ thành thật, tức là có chính kiến riêng (thành ý). Chính kiến riêng khiến con người ta ngay thẳng (chính tâm). Đó là quá trình tạo nên nền tảng để tu dưỡng con người (tu thân), từ đó mới giúp ta chỉnh đốn tốt gia đình vọng tộc (tề gia), và vì mỗi gia đình là nền tảng quốc gia, ta mới có thể lãnh đạo quốc gia tốt được (trị quốc), và cuối cùng là giúp thiên hạ phát huy cái tốt của mình (bình thiên hạ).

[Mauricio Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a first approach to Confucianism it is a quick and stark view to its principal tenets; it's also an affront to the cynicism that permeates contemporary political thought or plain old negativity like Hobbes' view of Natural Law.
Interestingly enough Confucius view is more akin to that of Rousseau's, in which a little bit of goodness is not only intrinsic to human nature, but it also radiates towards the rest of society spreading Good, or as Confucius himself puts it, Perfection.
It's quite striking to reflect upon the impact this philosophy has had throughout Chinese history and how it still must be ingrained somewhere in its culture in this day and age of Party dictatorship, being The Four Books and The Five Classics the cornerstone to Chinese philosophical thought.

[aaroh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, not much to say here. The Great Learning is like a small summary of Confucian political thought, but it gets its point across in a very efficient and easy to understand way. The version I read had no commentary, but it was worded much more “normally” I’d say compared to Lunyu? Even though Lunyu is not particularly hard to read, there are a ton of ways to interpret each entry. I’m sure there are better translations of this book out there and I will get to them eventually, but this is what I could find for now.

[J.R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short, 10 chapter book, discussing the Confucian School doctrine of how to begin to learn virtue. The Confucian School states this is the first work students should read before moving onto Analects of Mencius. Obviously I didn't know that prior to reading it, so I definitely broke the first rule of Confucian Fight Club.

[Enrico · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very short book about the importance of virtue and cultivation of yourself as a person before trying to achieve greatness.

[Gini Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazed with the values of what the book advocates still applies after 2500 years later. It is called wisdoms which can stand the test of time.

[Sinead Corbett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good foundation for the analects.
Makes some interesting points on the subject of morality and what is virtuous.
The lessons on how to rule I believe are still relevant and should be considered.

[André]

Quite a cheap but nicely done translation of the four Confucian classics. The language used is quite old-fashioned (I'm talking about the Classical Chinese one) and not always too literal, thus it's not too easy to understand even the translations but there's often an interpretation as well. I really like that they have added the Chinese original text, but in my opinion they wasted a lot of space there...

[James Violand · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fourth book in The Way. Virtue leads from the top. The Superior Man will reflect his quality in how he acts and the people will become good as a consequence. How pathetic our society has become because the vast majority considers virtue irrelevant.

[Maritza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief yet profound.

[Priyanka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very short but the things it teaches are very valuable.

[Peter J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.